Historic walkway is given a makeover
Work has begun to tackle the effects of wear and tear on Leicester's New Walk.
On Monday, contractors began to lay down surfacing, which is made by mixing gravel with glue, on the 200-year-old footpath.
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The work, which will cost about £200,000, will also involve closing the section between King Street and the Waterloo Way bridge on October 7 and October 21.
Assistant city mayor Rory Palmer said there would still be access to businesses on those days and that inconvenience would be kept to a minimum.
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He said: "I walk along New Walk every day and it's time for a bit of improvement.
"It's just the effects of wear and tear. Safety isn't an issue at the moment but, as the surface deteriorates, it can become a problem. When these works take place there's going to be disruption, but we will aim to keep it to an absolute minimum."
The footpath, which dates from 1785, was last resurfaced in 2003, when lottery cash, Leicester City Council funds, Friends of New Walk money and an East Midlands Development Agency grant set up a £2 million pot for maintaining the historic path.
Cash left over from that work will pay for the new project, which is expected to take four weeks.
While the busiest parts of New Walk near the city centre will be completely resurfaced, patches of damage in less used areas will be repaired with smaller areas of gravel.
Businesses in the section of New Walk that will be affected by the Sunday closures had mixed views.
Mark Sparry, assistant manager of Revolution bar said: "It's going to be quite disruptive. I don't know why they're doing it when the students are back, when they had the summer to do it."
Greg Hollingsworth, of Hollingsworths Solicitors, said the work would not cause disruption for his company.
He said: "We're very privileged to have New Walk in the city and any work that improves it is a good thing."
John Flynn, director at Maloy & Flynn Recruitment, said: "New Walk has been dug up recently along our stretch and it's looking a bit patchy.
"When they resurface it I just hope they'll sort out everything underground first so they don't have to dig it up again."
Mark Dunkley, clerk to the trustees of the Friends of New Walk Charitable Trust, said: "I think the surface is beginning to deteriorate and there are some potholes appearing.
"It's time for this to be done and I'm sure the work will be done sensitively to minimise the inconvenience."
Comments
by jimbob6163
Monday, September 24 2012, 7:51PM
“As for cycling the answer is in the name New Walk, its for walking put a camera on it and fine cyclists who use it they cycle to fast down that walk anyway just leave it as a walk way.”
by Graham_LE8
Friday, September 21 2012, 12:21PM
“@ Jagomeister; I think you're confusing the Friends of New Walk, with the Fiends of New Walk...”
by Jagomeister
Friday, September 21 2012, 9:38AM
“Will the clean up also do something about the aggressive drunks that congregate on the benches next to the bridge? If not I will contact the "friends of New Walk". Unless of course these soaks are indeed the friends of New Walk.”
by the-market
Friday, September 21 2012, 9:02AM
“The page to see what the suppliers say has bee deleted.Strange.
It does look nice,where it has not fell to bits.However ,it only carries pedestrians, so no hard wear.So is it value for money?
An observation on two comments made,
Mark Dunkley"..pot holes are appearing.."
palmer.."I walk down every day.."
I wonder if palmer has checked on the number of pot holes in the roads that have remained for the 16 months since he said a priority was to get them all repaired.
Then again maybe he does not walk along Humberstone Gate.A credit to this councils expertise in paving !”
by 4_Stroke
Thursday, September 20 2012, 10:27AM
“New_Walk_View... I think the issue with all "applied" surfaces is the susceptablity to water and frost damage, especialy when the surface is layed in the cold and damp!”
by New_Walk_View
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 11:31PM
“The bonded gravel creates a great-looking surface but you do wonder about its durability and performance. Interesting to see what the company says about it on their webiste;
(http://tinyurl.com/9pa2z5x”
by karinfall1955
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 8:22PM
“Any chance of a cycle lane?
I remember walking along New Walk one day when the police were stopping cyclists and fining them. I attempted to warn a cyclist approaching New Walk and was almost wrestled to the ground by an apoplectic little woman who seemed to think cyclists were the devil's spawn and wanted them to be fined rather than given the chance to dismount!!!”
by Toddy2010
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 6:01PM
“@phreakdown if you're going to make claims you really ought to provide evidence:
Friends of New Walk - http://tinyurl.com/9bv477x
Mark Dunkley - Harvey Ingram LLP - http://tinyurl.com/9nv8yaj
David Sturgis - Sturgis, Snow & Astill - http://tinyurl.com/8lq694r
James Bowie - Belmont Hotel - http://tinyurl.com/9vltbma
Norman Gill - Park House, Upper New walk - http://tinyurl.com/8lcye2b
Wendy Allum - Court View Management - http://tinyurl.com/9d7zpef
Colin Hargrave - 13 University road - http://tinyurl.com/8rc3b44
Bill Smedley - rg + p - http://tinyurl.com/8rmnfmg
Sarah Townsend - Scutt beaumont solicitors - http://tinyurl.com/9jz7ryk
Elizabeth Wilson - New Walk museum and art gallery - http://tinyurl.com/8u8jj4d
However their positions don't 'automatically' imply that they receive financial benefit from the status quo.”
by 4_Stroke
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 3:52PM
“Here we go again!”
by jdandi
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 3:21PM
“no cycle lanes - alternative, take to Welford Road /London Road and put your life at increased risk! What a joke for a 'Green city'.
Yes cyclists maybe do need to be a little more considerate in certain instances but on the whole I see cycling as a compliemnt to the usage of New Walk.
@phreakdown - Any way of contesting a bye-law ?”